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75 Years of Mercury Marine presented by Hubbard Aug. 6

Wisconsin
7:17 a.m. CDT July 22, 2014

In 1946, Mercury founder E. Carl Kiekhaefer began transforming the former Corium Dairy Farm in Fond du Lac into a manufacturing facility, the site of today’s Mercury Marine headquarters.(Photo: SUBMITTED PHOTO)

How did today's leading manufacturer of recreational and commercial marine engines rise from the inadvertent purchase of 300 defective motors in 1939? Retired Mercury Marine executive Jim Hubbard will present "75 Years of Mercury Marine," at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, at the Fond du Lac Public Library. The program is free. No registration required. Refreshments will be served.

Starting with E. Carl Kiekhaefer's purchase of a small outboard motor company in Cedarburg – which happened to include 300 defective outboard engines – Hubbard will trace the company's progress through what would eventually become Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac. There will be plenty of time for questions.

Hubbard was a career Brunswick employee (1968-2008) and spent his final 18 years with Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac as vice president and chief of staff.